The Supply and Demand of Gold

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The Supply and Demand of Gold Gold has been a part our financial lives since it was first discovered. When civilizations discovered gold, it was immediately considered a source of wealth and power. Today, gold is still a vital part of our currency; every single country uses gold to back up their currencies and the stability of the economy is reliant upon it. When studying the supply and demand of gold, several questions must be asked: What causes the change in supply and demand of gold? How do shifts in supply and demand affect decision making? How does supply and demand affect organizations? Is gold elastic or inelastic? Cause of Change in Supply and Demand Demand. The changes in supply and demand are due to a variety of markets. The changes in demand are influenced by the need for use in jewelry, technology, central bank gold reserves, and investment relations. Jewelry has “consistently been the largest component of annual gold demand” (World Gold Council, 2013). Even though the demand for jewelry is mostly based on affordability and desirability, other countries view gold as a necessary part of life – India, for example. “India is the largest consumer in volume terms [for jewelry], accounting for 28% of demand in 2012” (World Gold Council, 2013). Indian women believe gold jewelry is more than something to be worn; it is a way to preserve wealth and it is almost never sold (Vuk, 2011). The only time jewelry is sold in India is during a crisis, which explains why India is the largest consumer of gold jewelry; and why a change in supply and demand of gold jewelry can be culturally based. There are many uses for gold in technology, as scientists have discovered that gold “offers high thermal and electrical conductivity, along with outstanding resistance to corrosion” and it is often used in electrical, medical, and dental industries (World Gold Council,

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